The Furious Fire (Variejo Series #1)

End

Thank you, S-Xents, for reading the first book of the Variejos. Please, don't hesitate to leave a comment or the feedback in my stories. Thank you for letting me grow.

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I watch the woman who is now walking down the long aisle with the white flowers on her hands under her wedding veil...

"Kuya, nandiyan na siya..." Creon, the best man, chuckled.

Asawa ko 'yan...I smirked.

Nilingon ko ang mga bisita. Everyone seems to zoom in my eyes. Before I could even realize where I was, laughter from the casino players colonized my ears suddenly. 

"Sino ang babaeng dinala mo sa resort noong nakaraang gabi, France?" Habang nasa baraha na hawak ang mga mata.

Nabalitaan ko lamang mula kay Olivia na may dinala si France na babae roon. Nasa Maynila ako ngayon kaya hindi ko alam.

France Agoncillo is one of the family's guard. Ace player sa casino. Umuwi noong nakaraan na may dalang babae. Walang malay at basang-basa pa.

"Hindi ko rin alam, boss. Tinangay ko na papunta rito. Mukha rin walang matutuluyan ang babae..."

Didn't know that he is now a concern citizen, uh? Nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa inilatag na baraha sa mesa nina Tiano at Dave. Sinundan ni Abra.

"One pair," si Tiano.

"High card. Langya, walang pag-asa." tawa ni Dave.

"Boss, full house—" 

Natigilan si Abra nang ilapag ang baraha ko. Ngumisi ako. "Royal flush."

France whistled behind me. Followed by an audible smirk towards his allies. I saddled my back on my chair. While watching Terry shuffle the cards, I talk back to France.

"Is the woman homeless?" I need to meet her.

"Yes, boss. Gusto pa niya na banggain ko na lang siya..." he chuckled, as if it's an absurd wisecrack.

I barely looked at him through the corner of my left eye. I shallowly nodded. "Give the woman a job, then. Tell Olivia about it."

"Babalik na po ba kayo agad sa resort?" tanong pa niya.

"Nah...The company needs me right now. Aabisuhan ko si Olivia kapag uuwi ako roon. Ikaw, manatili ka rin dito." I notified.

Poverty results in negative repercussions. Reasons why many people commit either illegal but ethical. Or legal but unethical activities. 

Understanding why Zia wants to end her life before weakening my soul.  She lost her mother. Her father was imprisoned. She did not make it to college. She lost her job. She's kicked out in her apartment. See how fucked her life was? 

And there was a reason why I created a name in her world. I was never this keen over shits. But the first time I saw Zia, wearily slumped on my room's couch when I decided to go back to Thunderbird Resort, everything around me revolved terribly.

"Who the..." I did nothing but stare at the sleeping woman on the couch. Oh? 

Sa tabi ay natagpuan ko ang mga panlinis na ginamit. Maingat kong isinarado ang pinto bago lapitan ang babae. Nakahilig ang batok sa headrest at mahimbing ang tulog. Dala siguro ng pagod.